History for Rwanda as Tigers clinch maiden BAL title
.jpg)
Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 01.06.26. | 10:20
With the win, they earned the right to represent African at the next edition of the FIBA InterContinental Cup in Singapore in September
Rwanda's RSSB Tigers beat Petro de Luanda 90-88 to win the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) title on Sunday, 31 May in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Tigers staged an incredible comeback in the first half to prevent Petro de Luanda from winning their second BAL title.
Download our MozzartSport App For More News
This is the first time a Rwandese team has won the league title.
This was also RSSB Tigers' second win over Petro de Luanda this season.
"There's nothing that tops it. This means everything to us. We worked hard - personally, I worked five years for this moment, specifically. This means everything to me, to Kigali, to Rwanda," said RSSB Tigers guard/forward Ntore Habimana, who contributed six points for the victors.
After a poor opening quarter, Craig Randall bounced back in the second, leading the RSSB Tigers with a game-high 33 points.
Aboubacar Gakou led Petro de Luanda with 28 points, but it wasn’t meant to be for the 2024 BAL winners as he fouled later in the fourth quarter.
Petro raced to a 7–0 lead, forcing coach Henry Mwinuka to call a timeout just two minutes and eight seconds into the game.
Before the home team could improve their performance, Petro added 13 more points to make it 20 unanswered.
After missing his first four shots, Randall scored RSSB’s first two points with a lay-up.
Gakou was Petro’s main instigator, leading them with 15 points by the end of the opening quarter.
The Tigers trailed 27–16 at the end of the first quarter. Randle sank his first three-pointer, reducing the deficit to 28-19 a minute into the second quarter.
He followed this with another three-pointer (28–22), sending the BK Arena into a frenzy.
When Randall hit another three-pointer to give the Tigers their first lead (37–35), the packed arena erupted with chants and dancing, creating an incredible atmosphere.
Sergio Valdeomillos called a timeout in an attempt to regroup his team.
However, when Gakou, the only Petro player in double digits (20) at that stage of the game, picked up his third foul, the Angolan champions began to question their chances. Coach Valdeomillos took him out of the game to prevent his early exclusion.
As the game progressed, the RSSB Tigers grew in confidence and took a 42-37 lead at the break.
Petro de Luanda's 13 turnovers, excessive fouls and their rotating defence were probably the main talking points in the locker room.
The defence proved effective early in the season but faltered in the most important game of the season.
Eventually, the Angolan champions finished with 17 turnovers while allowing 90 points for the second time this season, since their 104-90 win over Al Ahly Ly.
Asked about their conversation after Petro opened the game with a 20-0 run, Habimana replied: "We didn't really have any specific conversation after that moment; we just stayed true to what we do because this is a game of runs."
He went on breaking down key factors that gave them the historic win: "Converting points, not giving up second-chance points, being able to play defense; We are a good offensive team, but [Coaches] Henry and James made it clear that we've got to work on our defense if we wanted to be champions. We locked in defensively in the second half and it worked out for us."
With the win, the RSSB Tigers earned the right to represent Africa at the next edition of the FIBA InterContinental Cup in Singapore in September. "It's a great achievement beating them twice this season," Habimana pointed out.
Talking to the BAL.NBA.COM, Gakou said: "We lost the game because we couldn't protect our 20-point lead. Credit to the other team for staying composed and fighting back. There's no reason to be embarrassed. We must hold our heads up high. We gave it our all; we had some low moments, but that's just part of the game."
He continued: "The BAL is becoming more and more competitive every season. I can't find a clear explanation as to why we keep losing in the final. But I must admit that other teams continue to build really competitive squads for this competition."